Palin hacking case: David Kernell found guilty

From the Associated Press:

The 22-year-old son of a Democratic Tennessee lawmaker has been convicted on two charges in the hacking of Sarah Palin's e-mail account while she campaigned on the Republican presidential ticket in 2008.

The federal court jury reached its verdict Friday against David Kernell after four days of deliberation. He was found guilty of obstruction of justice and unauthorized access to a computer, but was acquitted on a charge of wire fraud.

The jury was deadlocked on a charge of identify theft. Prosecutors reserve the right to have a new trial on that charge. The charge of obstructing an investigation has a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Palin and her daughter Bristol testified about harassment and disruption they suffered after some e-mail was posted on line.

Kernell's defense maintained it amounted to college student prank, not a crime.

Palin released a statement:

My family and I are thankful that the jury thoroughly and carefully weighed the evidence and issued a just verdict. Besides the obvious invasion of privacy and security concerns surrounding this issue, many of us are concerned about the integrity of our country's political elections. America's elections depend upon fair competition. Violating the law, or simply invading someone's privacy for political gain, has long been repugnant to Americans' sense of fair play. As Watergate taught us, we rightfully reject illegally breaking into candidates' private communications for political intrigue in an attempt to derail an election.

I want to thank the public servants who worked so hard on this case, particularly the jurors who gave up precious time from their jobs and families to listen to the evidence and reach a decision.

My family and I appreciate the good people of Knoxville, Tennessee, who showed us true Southern hospitality. We can't wait to visit again - but without having a subpoena in hand.

This is a really sad day for America. My respect for Mrs. Palin has considerably diminished if any. This college student is not a criminal for God's sake and her statement does not show one drop of compassion. This is the kind of Christians that give a bad name to our faith. It is mere religiosity without love or compassion. Shame on the d*mn jury that declared this young man guilty! Shame on all of you! Shame on Palin and her lack of compassion! Major Hassan killed 13 people and he is protected by our feds, a young, American US citizen hacks the account of some political bimbo and they are very prompt to judge and sentence!! shame on ALL of you!

Uh . .Sarah, the wise and all-knowing wizard of America . . . .It's not very secure "security" if you use easy to figure out passwords on your email accounts. If you've got nothing to hide, then you've got nothing to hide.

Obstruction of justice? How? He exposed her emails, he didn't tamper with an investigation or hide a murder suspect.

The biggest outcome of this case is the exposing of the insecure nature of the internet. "Back-door" entries into supposedly secure sites, are found all too commonly. One company even had a contest to see how quick a hacker could find their 'back-door'.

I think it was the dad, who dodged the bullet. The lawyers kept him from taking the stand and implicating his father and possibly one of the over zealous assistants.
Let them return to their lives, and we must wait for the book.

Amazing, Suddenly, all the Tea Baggers have completely forgotten about the son of the Party of NO!s official who just happened to be caught trying to break into a Democratic Senator's office by claiming to be a telephone repairman to bug his lines? What about the Tea Bag party's Fearless Leader, Ms Palin, who has admitted she particpated in hacking emails in Alaska? Where are the pending charges against her? Those potential charges were just one more reason why she chose to resign as Governor of Alaska, simply to stop all further investigations, and instead, follow the money trail so many people are thowing in her direction just to hear her stand up and repear her trite folksy comments which demonstrate her completel failure to comprehend the complex problems facing this Country today.

Amazing, Suddenly, all the Tea Baggers have completely forgotten about the son of the Party of NO!s official who just happened to be caught trying to break into a Democratic Senator's office by claiming to be a telephone repairman to bug his lines? What about the Tea Bag party's Fearless Leader, Ms Palin, who has admitted she particpated in hacking emails in Alaska? Where are the pending charges against her? Those potential charges were just one more reason why she chose to resign as Governor of Alaska, simply to stop all further investigations, and instead, follow the money trail so many people are thowing in her direction just to hear her stand up and repear her trite folksy comments which demonstrate her completel failure to comprehend the complex problems facing this Country today.

A lot of what Sarah Palin says is right but I don't think the kid deserves twenty years in jail for this particularly since the Palins suffered inconvenience but little permanent damage because as a result of their e-mail being hacked. It is more than a college prank but less than than crime of the century. I don't think that even Sarah Palin would want a maximum sentence in this case.

What does Sarah Palin know about Watergate? She probably thinks it is some 'gate' which crashed open when piles of water rushed. Just like how she saw Russia from her kitchen. Err, like how Bristol smoked dope and got pregnant and ended up a single mom at 16?? Welcome to the World of Alaskan hill billy!

Palin has talked openly about taking part in hacking into the head of the Alaskan Republican Party's email/computer when he was serving on the Oil and Gas/Pipeline commission to see if he had violated any ethics laws.

So the DC police didnt infiltrate protesters eh? Then why did they have to pay a huge fine:

The D.C. police department agreed yesterday to pay $685,000 and take steps to protect protesters from police abuse and ensure their rights to settle a lawsuit over the treatment of demonstrators at President Bush's inauguration in 2001.

The lawsuit uncovered evidence that the department had suspended rules limiting the use of force during the protests, had pressed undercover officers to infiltrate protest groups and had sought to provoke protesters and uninvolved bystanders by attacking them with batons and pepper spray.

I dont align my self with political parties,what i do specialize in is pointing out flagrant lies by the likes of yourself. What you described in your post happens in America every day since i have been living, this didnt start under Dems or GOP, even though in you feeble mind you believe this. I see you forgot to mention the kid in Pittsburgh who killed 2 cops who had a copy of O'Reilly's book and was tuned to Fox while they were instigating overthrowing the government. Or the rise in militant groups since Obama has become President. Or the idiots that show up where the President speaks with a gun strapped to their side. Real impressive. The DC police didnt infiltrate? Thanks for proving my point, when you listen to only what YOU want to hear then you miss the bigger picture.

The law and personal responsibility for choices and actions are not a concern for liberals - only they know the truth and act "right". Anything is ok to promote their twisted form of quasi religion... even push kids to pseudo battles for "the right thing"...

It must always be someone else's fault too, right? Always find excuses for what is simply bad behavior. They are all victims and use the various victim caucuses to convince themselves and each other that only they know.... BARF!

This kid's father should be sentenced with him. He gave him his non law abiding if for a Democrat cause education.

rharring - Are we another left wing nut still in denial of reality? The lack of any sort of violence at the several hundred Tea Party rallies has been commented repeatedly. Millbank and several other blow hards on the Post editorial staff kept up a steady drumbeat on the possibility of violence at the recent Second Amendment rallies in Virginia. They were literally salivating at the prospect of violence. When none occurred, we were treated to their squawking that violence could have occurred. It was disgusting.

In contrast, pro-immigration most, in just the past week, were reported on in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Examiner, and several other newspapers. Likewise, the murder of a border patrol office by a 17 year illegal and six of his gang friends, the shooting death of a family who made a wrong turn into a Los Angeles neighborhood, the DOJ published statistics that hispanic gangs (read: illegal - the politically correct left wants to portray law abiding U.S. citizens of Latin decent with the same brush as the illegal trash) make it quite clear that half of all homicides and violent crimes in this country can be directly traced to that one group, which composes less than 10% of the total population.

Oh, and take off your tinfoil hat. The D.C. police never infiltrated anybody.

Having a hard time with reality? Of course you can prove that these so called events happened right? Of course not, but you left out a few things, like the DC police infiltrating people who were going to turn their backs on Bush during inauguration day of 01, then they pepper sprayed that group. Or how about the 3 people in Denver who were kicked out of a publicly held meeting by a member of the Bush staff because of a BUMPER STICKER. The GOP is the one that has a problem with free speech. So by the way when is Obama going to round up our guns? Or when is the Whitey video of the first lady going to appear?

Good. Now, retry him on the other charges. This left wing twit is like all left wingers. They think they are above the law. You have peaceful rallies by Tea Party members, Second Amendment supporters, and Millbank and other left wing bigots at the Post are drooling all over themselves at the idea that they were "uncomfortable", that there 'could have been violence'. But, get a bunch of pro-illegal protestors together, where they beat the snot out of bistanders, where they threw rocks and bricks and bottles, stabbed people disagreeing with them, threatened people with guns, pointing loaded weapons at counter-protestors, and you didn't hear one peep from any of them. It was non-news at Post. The sad fact is, the left is largely composed of a laws rabble these days. At least one of these cockroaches at going to go to prison.

Palin should be in jail for her false statements about Death Panels, and being the chicken that she is wont answer any questions from the press. To bad that kid who tried to tap Rep. Landrieu's office got off, he needs to go to jail.

And TheAZ,

One of this so called pimps accomplice on this illegal act is the son of a GOP stalwart. Goes to show that both parties do the same. Oh thats right in this day and age it all the Dems fault. 8.5 trillion added to the deficit from 01-08 the Dems fault, lying about the Iraq war, Dems fault, not finding bin Laden, Dems fault. Fortunately the rest of the country has a brain and can remember what happened, unlike you.

"Libs or Conservatives, though the former are more destructive, radical and unwilling to recognize the right to free speech, unless it's speech which agrees with their views.'Posted by: VA_Republican
This comment made by a confirmed ditto head with absolutely no regard for the truth. Nixon was empeached, Agnew was impeached and imprisioned. Reagan deregulated everything Bush directed him to and that led to Iran Contra drug deals, Bush deregulated everything else and that led to the svings and loan thefts by Neil Bush amoung others like McCain, Little King George opened the doors to the WTC mess and then stripped Americans of their power and respect as well as the ENRON frauds, and now the fox screws croud is out to remove Obama to install Jebbie and his emerald smuggling wife into the west wing to finish the job for the Saudis. These are facts just as the facts of the Bush financing of Hitler was a porven fact but your to stupid to read the congressional record or past legal history so go forth and disintigrate but leave America alone.

Really speaks of the corruption of this party when the children of their elected politician's are found guilty of these types of acts!

In 2004 the son of U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisconsin, and the son of former acting Milwaukee Mayor Marvin Pratt were convicted of vandalizing Republican vehicles and leaving them unusable on the eve of the 2004 general election.

Now this idiot is going to find out what his little act of political terrorism will cost him. I hope they retry on the identity theft charge so he can spend more time behind bars. This will send a message to others in the future, regardless of whether they favor Libs or Conservatives, though the former are more destructive, radical and unwilling to recognize the right to free speech, unless it's speech which agrees with their views.

Throw the book at the kid. I seriously doubt it will happen, but if I could, I'd give him 5 years. Then again, I'm from Texas and most of us are law and order types. If you break the law, you face the consequences. This was NOT a prank.